Page 11 of King of Pain

Luke rubs his eyes. “I haven’t seen another car for at least an hour. I don’t think we’re being followed.”

In the light of the day, I can see he’s just as gorgeous in the light as he was in the dark, but also, he looks tired.

Fine lines fan out from his eyes. “Need me to drive for a while?”

He adjusts in the seat, sitting forward and pulling a wallet from his back pocket.

“I’m good. But can you see what I’ve got for cash?” And then he hands me the wallet.

I open it up, his ID right in the front with his cocky smile and his name. Lucas Kincaid.

Well, he was telling the truth about that. Another point in his favor.

Not that I need to keep a tally. As long as he’s not a kidnapper or murderer of women, I’ll be fine, provided I can keep my libido in check.

After years of suppression, I swear, my body has gone into complete revolt.

I open up the wallet, my brow furrowing. “You carry a lot of cash.”

He smiles again. “Yeah. Never know when you might…”

“Need to escape the city?”

“I was thinking more like buy drinks for pretty girls.”

“Right,” I look down again, sure that he does that kind of thing all the time. Buy drinks for pretty girls. Something to keep in mind.

He scrubs his face, letting out a long breath. “Let’s see about getting a hotel. It’s going to have to be a roadside dive and even then, I’m going to need to charm whoever is at the desk so that I can pay cash and not drop a card, but I don’t want to leave any trail for the Vendettis to find if I can help it.”

I’m sure he’s right. Hotels want people to pay with plastic for security deposits these days. But I’m also pretty sure Luke willmanage to work around that. He exudes that calm devil-may-care charm that I’m guessing works every time.

Tiredness pulls at my own eyes.

I’ve still got dirt embedded in my knees from when Vincent made me kneel on the ground. A shower would be amazing.

And then…

I shake my head. “Sleep sounds good. I can’t think at all.”

What comes next? Today is Saturday. My internship starts on Tuesday. I’ve got to be back in time to start.

How bad is this?

I’ll ask, as soon as I’ve gotten some rest.

CHAPTER FOUR

Kate

Luke comesout of the motel office, flashing a grin and waving a key. I wave back from my seat in the car.

We are at a rundown motel, with peeling paint and a sign that’s got several bulbs out, not that I’m a stranger to places like this. Like I said, my mom was a bum magnet, and I sincerely mean she dated guys on the edge of death or jail. There were a few good ones, of course. But none of them ever lasted long.

Luke slides in the car and drives around the corner to our room. He hands me the key. “I’ll be back in an hour. Lock the door behind me and I’ll give one quick knock to let you know it’s me.”

“Wait. What? Where are you going?” Fear tightens my chest. I don’t want to be alone now. Even if three deranged criminals weren’t chasing us, I have no idea where I am or how to get back to my life.

“Walmart,” he answers.

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